Environmental aspects of fiber crops cultivation and use

•Environmental aspects of fiber crops cultivation and use are reviewed.•Fiber crops offer ecological advantages over conventional ones: contribute to carbon sequestration, energy savings, reduction of greenhouse gases and non-renewable resources.•Acidifying and eutrophication emissions may limit the conversion and use of fiber crops.•Other environmental advantages of fiber crops: low input requirements, its phytoremediation aptness for wastewaters or contaminated land.•Site-specific factors should be assessed in order to overcome negative impacts.